Bengal Tigers beat Hyderabad Toofans 4-3 to become Hockey India League champions

The Shrarchi Rarh Bengal Tigers were crowned as the champions of the Hockey India League 2024-25 season as they defeated Hyderabad Toofans 4-3 in a thrilling final on Saturday, February 1. Jugraj Singh was the star of the show for the Bengal Tigers as he scored a hat-trick while Sam Lane scored the winner in the 4th quarter to down the Toofans. Gonzalo Peillat's brace and Amandeep Lakra's goal wasn't enough in the end for Hyderabad-based franchise as the Tigers clinched the title to close an incredible return for the HIL.

The match was intense from the get-go as both teams were launching attacks into the opposition circles. The Tigers were effective with their aerial passes early on and got a penalty corner in the 4th minute. The 3 resulting attempts on goal were expertly thwarted by the Toofans' defence. The Hyderabad outfit slowly grew into the game and broke the deadlock in the 9th minute with a PC of their own. Peillat stepped in to slot the ball



into the net to send the fans into a frenzy.

The Toofans ended the first quarter strongly and resumed their control over proceedings at the beginning of the second one as the Tigers were restricted to occassional counter-attacks. However, Abhishek earned a PC for the Tigers, six minutes before half-time, which Jugraj converted to restore parity. The Toofans bounced back at the very next minute as they got a PC of their own, which Amandeep expertly converted to give his side the lead again.

The third quarter saw Jugraj change the whole game with 2 PCs in the 32nd and 35th minutes as the Tigers stormed ahead. However, the Toofans would level things up once again as Peillat scored from a PC to set up a grand stand finish.

The Tigers were the dominant team in the final quarter as they earned a few PCs before Sam Lane stepped up to convert the all-important one in the 54th minute to clinch the title for his side.